As a strange force takes hold of the TARDIS, the Doctor and his friends find themselves grounded on the inhospitable planet of Frontios, where the last survivors of the human race scratch out a desperate existence far away from their long dead homeworld.
The colonists are gripped by fear and paranoia as the planet is battered by attacks from space and they watch as the bodies of their dead are sucked into the ground. But the Doctor only appreciates the true gravity of the situation when he finds that the TARDIS has been destroyed...
Original VHS video release synopsis - 1997.
Having prior helped define the character of the Fifth Doctor with his opening story, alongside the old man trapped in a young man's body motif that star Peter Davison would enjoy developing further in his final season (and particularly here), with the welcome return of his half-frame glasses), former Who script editor Christopher H. Bidmead returns with a knockout science fiction adventure mixing high- concept with atmospheric monster scares in Frontios, a tale I thoroughly enjoyed upon original transmission and had prior eagerly awaited since first seeing early sneak peek footage for it during January 1984. For me the story was superbly realized, the crashed starship and colony under attack from missile bombardments, were, I thought, effectively handled - all the production and costume design synched well and created an air of believable realism in the genre, with director Ron Jones finally coming into his own with a great script and characters to sink his teeth into. And again, there's a wonderful supporting guest cast who help bring it all to life, especially Lesley Dunlop and William Lucas, whilst companions Tegan and Turlough (who gets to reveal some of his people's intriguing backstory) also had lots to do within the adventure and were never left out of things.
As for the prime enemies of the story, the Tractators (based on an idea of the writer observing a colony of woodlice on the floor of his flat), despite their ultimate lack of on-screen fast movement, prove a fine idea and a chilling adversary, using creepy powers (and effective video effects) that can literally suck people under the ground. Their leader, the Gravis (well voiced by John Gillet), is equally formidable, operating from their equally well-conceived underground realm from which they make their great plans to infest the universe.
Sadly, with all this great work over three prior episodes (also featuring memorable cliffhangers and a great pipe synthesized score from Paddy Kingsland), the rushed ending to the story, featuring the previously 'destroyed' TARDIS reformed so as to separate the Gravis creature from its colony, feels anti-climactic, in a way that stops the story from reaching the all-time classic status it deserves, though the lead-in to Resurrection of the Daleks is ominously effective. Frontios is the last story in which fans and viewers get to enjoy the superb TARDIS trio of the Doctor, Tegan and Turlough, working beautifully as a team before their season break-up begins. They overall couldn't have had a better tale to go out on.
The Doctor and his companions arrive on the bleak world of Frontios, where the last humans' colony world is constantly under attack from an unknown menace.
The Doctor tends to the wounded, as Mister Range (William Range) outlines the tragic history of the Earth colony, now on the brink of extinction.
The Doctor and Norna (Lesley Dunlop) converse with a patient (Barbie Denham). In a first for the eighties series, the Doctor is worried that his intervention with the colony at this transient stage of their existence will incur the potential wrath of the Time Lords.
Colony leader Plantagenet (Jeff Rawle) and Deputy Brazen (Peter Gilmour) believe the Doctor and friends to be part of the alien invaders.
Our heroes swift exit plans lead to a shocking discovery!
The TARDIS has seemingly been destroyed. Making the most of this idea producer John Nathan-Turner launched a brief press gimmick that the TARDIS was going to be indefinitely removed from the series. Colourised image by Deborah Brown.
About to explore the secret caverns beneath the wrecked colony ship.
Norna and Turlough before they begin a terrifying expedition.
Captured by the Tractators, in a memorable Part Two cliffhanger.
Exploring the realm of the Tractators, the Doctor and Tegan have some fine scenes together.
A Tractator and their leader, the Gravis.
Tegan and Turlough meet their underground foes.
Young leader Plantagenet (Jeff Rawle) has been captured.
Awaiting his fate.
Former colony leader Captain Revere (John Beardman), now a 'tool' of the Tractators!
Plantagenet is to be the next driver of the Tractators' excavating machine, also made from human parts.
The Doctor uses the Gravis's immense power to reconfigure and combine the outer-plasmic shell and interior of the TARDIS, before ultimately trapping it from its colony.
Upon leaving Frontios, our TARDIS travellers are soon caught in a time corridor, heading towards a mysterious foe at the centre of the universe...
The memorable cover showcasing the story, for Doctor Who Magazine issue 86, March 1984.
Original Radio Times transmission listings.
Original Target Books adaptation art by Andrew Skilleter.
Original UK VHS release sleeve art by Colin Howard.
A great publicity image used for the cover of Doctor Who Magazine Issue 220 - 1994. Davison enjoyed working on the story, and especially with guest star Lesley Dunlop.
The memorable In-Vision cover. Art by Brian Hudd.
US DVD release composition art by Lee Binding.
Great fan art cover tribute by Philip James Allison.
Get the BBC Audiobooks Target Books adaptation here:
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